DEC Mourns the Passing of Judith Heumann

Jaclyn M. Nagle, MPA, BCEA • March 6, 2023

December 18, 1947 -March 4, 2023

The Disability Empowerment Center joins the disability community in mourning the loss of Judith Heumann. One of the founders of the independent living movement, she was instrumental in the passage of the Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA). Her advocacy led to the first federal regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability, and to the U.N.'s adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Her career spanned leadership roles in the federal government – including the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State – as well as disability advocacy groups, local government, philanthropy, and international organizations.

Judy joined with advocates to make real changes in the US and globally. As the Executive Director Jaclyn Nagle notes that “Today is a sad day for all people with disabilities. We must move on and continue her legacy and we must continue to fight for our rights. Now more than ever we are at risk of going backward. In the spirit of others before us we must LEAD ON!” Read the full press release here.

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The Beauty Of Support Everyone needs support and people with disabilities are no exception. We either had our disabilities for a long time or just acquired them. No matter what the situation may be, everyone, families, individuals without disabilities, need support. However, people with disabilities are either embarrassed to seek support or do not know where to go. First of all, don’t be embarrassed! We all may have different circumstances; things happen to us that we have NO CONTROL over. We all have had a bathroom issue in public even if you have a disability or not. It happens and if someone says they have not had that issue they are either not telling the truth or it has not happened to them – yet. The bottom line is that we all need support. There are ways to reach out to get this. It starts with you. Take a small step, Be honest. Reach out to a trusted friend. However, there are other resources you can reach out to and here are some suggestions: Find your local CIL. Many have peer support staff, or peer support groups. DEC has a monthly support group. Check out the calendar under "Events' or call our office for more information. Look for Online support groups – Online support groups are out there. Just a word of caution – make sure that they are run by reputable groups. Seek a group that has a shared interest in something you do. It does not have to be disability related to be supportive. When you do something you like or have an interest in you are meeting people who share an interest with and have that to discuss. Over time, you can make new friends. Some people need more professional support and there is nothing wrong with that. One good thing that came out of the pandemic was that telehealth is popular. You can now see a therapist on your computer, iPad, or cell phone. Most of them will take your insurance. Just ask. Telehealth eliminates the need to scheduling transportation or having someone go with you if you need personal care. These are just a few suggestions. You can also reach out to DEC anytime!